It’s the dreaded question in any interview. You’ve sailed through the last 40 minutes, feeling relatively confident about your success when your interviewer asks the hardest question of all: “Do you have any questions for me?”
Why should we ask questions in an interview?
Some people feel awkward about preparing questions to ask in an interview. For them, it’s on par with preparing conversation starter cards for a blind date. But if you respond, “No, I think you’ve answered all my questions already”, you could end up looking as though you aren’t that interested in getting the job. Understandably, many recruiters and employers find this irritating.
Try thinking about subject areas likely to come up in an interview and practise questions that fit in with these areas. Be sure to listen to the answers, otherwise your questions will end up being self-defeating by appearing too practised.
Your role
Ask about the most and least satisfying parts of the job, any training opportunities within your role and what the most important thing you can do from the outset would be. Don’t shy away from asking about opportunities for promotion in the future. These questions all show that you are actively interested in the position, ready for hard work and have long-term ambitions with the company.
Your role within the company
Ask about the company’s values and vision, how your work will contribute to both and whether there is scope for collaboration. Obviously this indicates that you’re interested in where the company as a whole is going, which shows that you are looking for a career not a just-for-now job.
You in the role
This final group of questions requires the most confidence on your part. If you ask them well they offer you the opportunity to make an open case for yourself as a candidate. Ask whether the interviewer has any doubts about your suitability for the role and what he or she thinks your strengths and weaknesses in relation to this job may be.
Quick tip
Instead of saving two questions to tag on at the end, you may want to prepare enough questions to ensure that the interview flows conversationally instead of as a straight Q&A interrogation. Asking questions as you go along shows that you relate well to people, are interested enough to be curious, able to engage with live situations and capable of being proactive instead of simply reacting to what’s thrown at you. It also increases your confidence, helping you to perform at the top of your ability throughout the interview.
